Spabk-plug



H. Z. WHITE.

SPARK PLUG.

. APPLICATION FILED OCT-3.1914.

1,233,630. Patented July 17,1917.

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SPARK-PLUG;

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY Z. WHITE, a citizen of. the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spark-Plugs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved spark plug for use in an internal combustion engine as an igniterand it consists in the novel features and combinations of parts hereinafter described, and 'particulari y pointed out in the-claims. he objects of the invention are, generally speaking, to provide a spark plug of simplified construction and which will be.

eflicient, durable and reliable in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spark plug having a central electrode made in sections to form a spark gap and which is permanently molded into a substantial one-piece insulation of porcelain,

glass or other similar substance, which is transparent to such an extent as to render the spark ga visible, so that it forms an index as to t e functioning of the ignition spark without removing the plug from the engine cylinder. I

The plug is designed especially for use in locating trouble in a motor having a number of cylinders, wherein the spark gap shows at a glance if the ignition circuit is at fault, and if so, the location of the faulty cylinder. The spark gap is also employed in determining the volume of spark obtained and in adjusting the vibrators regulating the spark to obtain-the best results with the consumption of current.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section through my improved spark plug.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.

F' 3 is a transverse sectionon the line A- of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of Fig. 2.

17 is the metallic body of the spark plug and having screw threads 23 for fastening the plug into the wall of the engine cylinder 18 in the usual manner. 7 is the porcelain,

glass or like insulating material which is inserted centrally into 17 and having a flange 14. The upper. partof the body 17 is re- Specification of Letters l'atent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application 'filed October s, 1914. Serial 1T0: 884,821.

and 15 which are located above and below said flange 14. Gaskets 13'and '15, for making. a tight joint between 17 and 7 and a more or less elastic connection between them,

.cessed to take the flange 14 and gaskets 13 may be of asbestos or copper or other materlal as a. combination 0 the two. 12 is a cap fastened to body 17 by means of screw ends 8 and 10. The sparkigap 9 between the ends 8 and 10 of the electrode sections 1 and 11 is preferably a vacuum. 6 and 16 are enlargements on the electrodes 1 and 11 respectively for the purpose of holding them solidly in place in the insulator 7. 4 is a terminal cap which is beaded over the upper end 5 of the insulator 7. 3 and 2 are huts threaded on to the upper end of electrode 1.

A' suitable electrical-connection can be made to a source of electricity by clamping the wire or other connection between cap 4 and nut 3 while but 2 then forms a lock nut.

. The lower end 19 of electrode 11 projects below the bottom surface 26 of insulator 7 and forms one of two sparking points, the

other of which is 21 across the working gap 20. The spark oint 21' is on the horizontal end of the spar 'ng terminal 25, the upper end 24 of which is inserted vertically into the bod 17. The surface 26 is rounded and smooth y connected with the inside of the engine cylinder to prevent accumulations of soot or carbon. The spark points 19 and 21 are also smooth and rounded so an accumu lation of soot or carbon will be less liable ,to occur and the more easily prevented by the dissipating efl'ect of the spark across the workin ap 20. v

It wi lfie understood that sparking points 19 and 21 are inside of the cylinder wall 18 and the spark plug body- 17 and all above it are exposed to view outside of the cylinder wall 18,. a

In the operation of the lug the current passes through the electro e 1 bridging the gap 9 between the points 8 and 10 and passing through electrode 11 bridges the working gap 20 between the points 19 and 21, igniting the charge in the engine cylinder. From spark point 21 the current passes through the: plug body 17 and engine cylinder 18 to form a complete circuit with the a current source.

The size of the spark at the working gap" 20, its timing or its interruption can be detected by observing the spark through the insulator 7 at the gap 9.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. In a spark plug, a plug body having a central bore, a recess in the upperportion of said body concentric with said bore, an

1 ed over a semi-circular shoulder on the up-,

vinsulator com osed of a singlepieceof trans parent material in said bore andhaving a flange fitting into said recess," said f insu lator being held in saidbo'dy by means of acap screwed over the upper and outer portion of said plug body,'an electrode in two sections imbedded in said insulator, said sections being semi-circular and separated to form a spark gap and a terminal cap beadper portion of said insulator, through which the upper section of said electrode projects.

2. An electric sparking device comprising a plug body, a recess in the upper portion of said plug body,*an insulator composed of asinglepiece of transparent material and having a flange fitting into said recess, said insulator beingheld in said bodyby means of a cap screwed over the upper portion of,

i a said plugbody, an electrodein two sections each of which is immovably held in said insulator and separated to form a spark gap, the upper section of said electrode projecting througha terminal cap beaded over a shoulder on the upper'end of said insulator, thelowersection of said electrode extending ,through said insulator and a s arking terminal mounted in the base of said plu body to form with the lower section of sai trode a working spark gap.

- 3. In a spark plug, a plug body having a central bore, a recess in the upper P01131011 of said body concentric with said bore, an insulator composed of a single piece of transparent material" in said bore and having a flange fitting into said recess, gaskets in said recess above and below said flange,

I in termina said insulator ei held in said body by means ofa cap screwed over the 'IIPPGIYPOP tion of said plug body, whereby a tight joint is formed between said insulator and said body, an electrode in two sections each of which is held in said insulator by ball shaped enlargements the inner ends of said sections being semi-circular and separated to form a spark gap, the upper section of said electrode being. threaded to form a binding post and projectingthrough a terminal cap beaded over a semi-circular shoulder on the y upper end of said'insulator, the lower section of said electrode projectingthrough the bottom "of said insulator and being rounded and smoothly connected with the bottomsurface of said insulator, the bottom surface -of said insulator also being rounded and smoothly connected with the lower portion of said plug body, and a cylindrical sparkmountedin thebase portion of said plug body andhaving a horizontal portionsextending across the end of the lower section of said electrode and separated therefrom to form a working gap.

4, Ina spark plug, aplug body, an insulator composed of a one piece transparent material in said body. an electrode in two sections, the inner ends of said sections being semicircular and'separated to form a spark gap, the upper section of said electrode being threaded toform a binding post and projecting through a terminal cap beaded over a semi-circularshoulder on the-upper end of said insulator, the lower section of said, electrode projecting through the bottom of said insulator and being semi-circular and a cylindrical sparking terminal. mounted in thebase portion of said plug, body and having a horizontal portion ex-- tending across the semi-circular end of the lower section of saidv electrode and sepa- 

